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Arts + Culture Update
November '24
Griffith l Leeton l Murrumbidgee l Narrandera
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WRA Workshop Wrap up
On November 14th & 15th Western Riverina Arts Executive Director Aanya Whitehead joined artists and arts workers from across NSW for the Work of Art Showcase in Orange, NSW. This two-day conversation about the future of regional arts practice is centred around the women of Regional Arts NSW's Work of Art program, celebrating their work and providing an opportunity for both the arts sector and the community to discuss, provoke and imagine new possibilities for creativity outside of major metropolitan areas.
Among the many highlights for ED Aanya Whitehead was the opportunity to connect with artists and creatives who are looking to visit our region. Among these was Alyce Fisher, the creator and performer of Tinderella now touring NSW. Alyce gave the Work of Art crowd a quick preview of this hilarious live theatre show. Catch WRA at the show and tell us what you thought!
Photo: Western Riverina Arts Executive Director Aanya Whitehead (R) with performer and artist Alyce Fisher (L). Photograph courtesy of Western Riverina Arts.
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Murrumbidgee Short Story Winners
Last night, Thursday 21st November, Western Riverina Arts announced and celebrated the Winners of this years Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition. This year we received the most entries in the Under 12 category than any other, with a total of 35 entrants across the four Western Riverina Local Government Areas (LGAs).
There was much discussion at our Blind Judging event last week, with excitement from those present around our winning entries and exactly why they each stood out.
🏆 Open Winner -
Emma Rose Darcy - Caliban in the Fine Dark Woods
🏆 Open Highly Commended -
Jason Richardson - Music in the Age of the Internal Combustion Engine
🏆 Under 18 Winner - Neve R. - Alethia
🏆 Under 12 Winner - Christian R. - The Story of Zash, Yen and Keppler - 22b
Western Riverina Arts and our Sponsors would like to extend our sincerest Congratulations to all the entrants of this years competition for their hard work! Keep Writing!
Eager to read this years winning stories? Never fear! Simply keep an eye out for our December Newsletter to read the winning stories yourself!
Graphic: Central banner reads: Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition | Winner Announcement.
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WRA at Marrambidya River Fest
On Saturday 16th November Western Riverina Arts staff attended the Marrambidya River Fest.
This wonderful community event at Fig Tree Park, Darlignton Point included an assortment of music, dance, bushtucker, workshops and more.
Among the highlights, were performances by Burrundi Theatre dancers, Lawrence Barlow, Damien Thorne with Scar Tree band and Martin Cook with the mellow tones of his Celtic Harp. Executive Director Aanya Whitehead could not resist the Lemon Myrtle vegetable curry, calling it "absolutely delicious!" Who doesn’t love a good curry?
Missed out and want to catch up on the fun? Head to our Facebook page to watch our livestreams from the day!
Image: Marrambidya River Fest Event Poster care of Burrundi Theatre
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Western Riverina Arts Holiday Closure
It's beginning to Look a lot like Christmas! As usual, our Western Riverina Arts Offices will close and our staff will go on leave in December, and return in January.
Throughout the closure period, our social media platforms will be lightly active. Please continue to send through queries during this time, which we will address in the new year.
WRA Office closed to the public:
Mon 16th Dec 2024 to Tue 27th Jan 2025
Graphic: A festive tile that reads 'Holiday Closure Dates' followed by the details above and closes with 'We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday!'
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Experience the extraordinary "Stitch Up" Textile Artwork at The Hive Narrandera on exhibition Monday 18th November until Sunday 1st December 2024, 11am to 2pm daily.
Made by 28 Creatives with over 1200 hours of work, the “Stitch Up” Textile Artwork is a series of 7 individual works forming a large banner that will be permanently displayed at NACNet’s Arts Hub at the Narrandera Railway Station.
The almost year-long project, led by prominent local artist Lindee Russell has been supported by $3000 in funding from the Create Australia Country Arts Support Program (CASP) via Western Riverina Arts. Volunteer creatives of all skill levels put their mark on the work. Along with a core group of 8 the Stitch Up team have collectively put in more than 1200 hours at the ArtsHub under Lindee’s leadership. The design concept was drawn from a series of gatherings in which community members put forward their ideas. The project took on a further life as participants began the work of creating each individual element and every fine detail you see in the artwork.
Participants in Stitch Up learned new skills and experienced the use of a range of techniques and materials. Almost all of the individual pieces on each panel feature materials donated by community members. Out of the making of this collaborative artwork was the formation of a coalition of relaxed, supportive, and passionate group of previously largely unconnected individuals.
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Head to Leeton Museum and Art Gallery to see two brilliant photography exhibitions.
Narrandera Camera Club presents Our Patch, In Focus. The exhibition features a diverse collection of images, including a special section honouring Bill Draper, a club founding member who turns 100 this year. Experience stunning photos from Leeton, Narrandera, and the surrounding areas, with additional images from further afield, including Sydney and Melbourne. The collection captures a diverse perspective on local life, landscape, and community through the lenses of talented photographers. Don’t miss out on the beauty of Leeton, Narrandera, and beyond.
Showing alongside is Still Here, extended by popular demand! Curated by Joanne Edwards, this moving exhibition by Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution reminds us that behind every person living with dementia is a unique individual with dignity and grace. Building awareness and offering community support has never been more important as our population ages. This exhibition serves as a call to unite and make our community more inclusive. Visit Leeton Museum and Art Gallery and be part of the change.
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You are invited to the Western Riverina Arts Networking Christmas Party and Horizons Celebration!
Join us on Friday, 13th December, from 6pm at the Leeton Museum and Art Gallery for an evening of festive cheer, creative connections, and celebration. Let us come together to recognise the amazing achievements of our artistic community and enjoy a night of good company, holiday vibes, and inspiring conversations.
Do not miss out on this chance to wrap up the year on a high note! We can not wait to see you there.
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The landscape around us has changed, but have art making practices reflected this? CULTIVATE is Wagga Artist Em Shannon’s exploration of threatened native plants depicted using paper and pigments made from agricultural waste & problematic weeds.
Come and be inspired by Em’s experimental alternate processes in this exhibition of ‘slow art’.
Exhibition Details
📍The Station Creative Workspace 54-58 Johnston Street Wagga Wagga
🗓 2nd-17th November
🕒 Open 10am-4pm Saturdays
🕒 10am-2pm Sundays
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A Festival of Contemporary Jewellery
Three Exhibitions under one roof!
Head to Griffith Regional Art Gallery this November and December as the gallery becomes the epicentre of Australian Contemporary Jewellery. This one is not to be missed!
Featuring three exhibitions:
The 2024 National Contemporary Jewellery Award finalists
Treasure Trove - a collection from the National Gallery of Australia
GEOMORPH - recent works by Contemporary Jeweller Sabine Pagan
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Create NSW Visits the Western Riverina: Supporting Our Communities' Dreams
Western Riverina Arts recently welcomed Create NSW team members to three key locations across our region. The day was rich with discussions about upcoming projects, creative visions, and the dreams our communities are eager to bring to life. We can not wait to see these initiatives come to fruition and are committed to supporting their journey every step of the way.
Of course, the day was not without its challenges. We sincerely apologise for the timing issues caused by a 40-minute delay in the Narrandera session, which impacted the schedule. We understand that many of you made time in your busy lives to attend, and we deeply appreciate your patience and adaptability.
Despite this, the sessions were full of energy and engagement. Conversations delved into funding opportunities, project ideas, and strategies to maximise impact.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. “I enjoyed the afternoon and have already booked a phone consult with Create NSW to talk through my application for a creative grant” shared one participant. This kind of engagement highlights the value of the day’s conversations and the potential for real, tangible outcomes in our creative community. We hope you left with inspiration, insights, and confidence about the changes to Create NSW’s funding structures.
If you were unable to attend, left early, or felt there were questions left unanswered, we are here to help. You can reach out to any of the Create NSW contacts below:
Colin Kinchela, First Nations Policy & Partnerships Lead: Colin.Kinchela@create.nsw.gov.au
Michael Geia, Manager First Nations Arts Funding: Michael.Geia@create.nsw.gov.au
Portia Lindsay, Regional Funding and Development Manager: Portia.Lindsay@create.nsw.gov.au
Michael Huxley, Business Analyst: Michael.Huxley@create.nsw.gov.au
For general or multi-year funding enquiries, you can contact the team at arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9228 4578.
We’re excited to see what the future holds and are here to support your creative visions.
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Photograph: Create Conversations at Narrandera Arts and Community Centre, alongside River Country exhibit. Photograph by Zooey Korhonen care of Western Riverina Arts
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Finley Hospital Redevelopment
Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) is seeking interest from local creatives to develop artwork that will inspire and comfort patients, visitors and staff in public and clinical spaces of the Finley Health Service.
The NSW Government has committed $25 million to the Finley Health Service redevelopment which will enhance the current health facility and ensure healthcare services are carefully planned to meet community needs now and into the future.
Applicants with strong community links to the Finley and Riverina region, and living within the Murrumbidgee Local Health District are encouraged to apply.
Artists are encouraged to submit an EOI via the online form. EOIs should be submitted by 5 pm (AEST) on Monday 9 December, 2024.
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Individual creative practitioners and arts and cultural organisations in NSW can now apply for:
Creative Nations – projects for First Nations organisations and individuals – small project grants up to $40,000; large project grants up to $100,000
Next Steps – professional and skills development (for individuals) – grants up to $10,000
Creative Steps – new work development (for individuals) – small project grants up to $40,000; large project grants up to $100,000
Cultural Access – projects by organisations and individuals that engage with NSW Government strategic priority areas – small project grants up to $40,000; large project grants up to $100,000
4-Year Multi-Year - Not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations, service organisations or local government authorities with a primary purpose of arts and cultural activity. Applicants can apply for a minimum of $100,000 and a maximum of $600,000 each year
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